Electrochemical value recovery apparatus



u 13,1944. w. E. CUMMINS Em 2,350,992

ELECTRO CHEMICAL VALUE RECOVERY APPARATUS Filed oct. 7, 1941 a Sheets-Shed 1 I INVENTOR. W- E- CUMMINS W.W- STAPP June 13, 1944. w. E. CUMMINS ETAL 2,350,992

ELECTRO CHEMICAL VALUE RECOVERY APPARATUS Filed Oct. 7, 1941 a Sheets-Sheet-Z INVENTOR. E.cuMM|Ns w. STAPP June 13; 1 4. w. E. CUMMINS Em 2,350 992 ELECTRO CHEMICAL VALUE RECOVERY APPARATUS Filed Oct. 7, 1941 a Sheets-Shet 5 INVENTCR. w. E. CUMMI'NS W- W STAPP .June 13, 1944. W. cu ms ET AL 2,350,992

ELECTRO CHEMICAL VALUE RECOVERY APPARATUS Filed Oct. 7, 1941 s Sheets -Sheet 4 INVENTOR. w. E. CUMMINS w-w. aTAPP June 13, 1944. w. E. CUMMINS ET AL 0,

ELECTRO CHEMICAL VALUE R ECOVERY APP ARATUS Filed bt. 7-. 1941 a SheefbSf-Sheet e INVEN'I'OR. V\/- E. CUMMINS w.'w. sTA PP June 1944- w. E. CUMMINS ETAL 2,350,992

ELECTRO CHEMICAL VALUE RECOVERY APPARATUS Filed Oct. 7, 1941 s Sheets-Sheets INVENTOR. w E. cu MM IN 5 BY STAPP H545 v g Patented June 13, 1944 ELECTROCHEMICAL "ALUEv RECOVERY APPARATUS Walter E. Cummins, Santa Maria, and Wallace W. Stapp, Long Beach, Calif.

Application October 7, 1941, Serial No. 413,946

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an electrochemical value recovering apparatus.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus for use in the recovery of gold, mercury and other metals from sand, gravel or ore bearing rock.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel bombardment apparatus for subjecting a value containing pulp to electrical bombardment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means for controlling the flow of current to a pulp bombarding apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel mercury supply means for use with a value recovering apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus for controlling the flow of one or more chemicals to the treating receptacles of a value recovering apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel filter cloth holder and value saver.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel impeller pump and disintegrator unit for use with a value recovery apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel compartmental receptacle for use with a value recovery apparatus.

In the recovery of gold and other precious metals from ore bearing deposits it frequently happens that the metals are surrounded by thin layers or films of a non-metallic nature and for this reason a satisfactory recovery is not made by the usual amalgamation process, and it is one of the objects of our invention to provide a novel apparatus and method for the recovery of values in materials of the nature mentioned.

In order to free the metals or the metallic salts which comprise the values we preferably first thoroughly disintegrate the material and form a pulp which is free from undesirable residue. This pulp is then subjected to a bombardment treatment preferably by a high voltage current which is rapidly pulsated to form electrical discharges which pass through the pulp.

To the bombarded pulp material we preferably add mercury and a reagent such as sodium chloride. The sodium chloride is broken down into sodium and chlorine and in the presence of the mercury the sodium forms an amalgam and the excess is discharged into the tailings as sodium hydroxide. The ores treated frequently contain salts of mercury and these are converted into metallic mercury. Gold, even when so finely divides as to be collodial, is recovered, as is silver e. g. from silver chloride. Due to the sodium exthe purposes mentioned.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front view with parts broken away showing our apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a central sectional view with parts in elevation showing one of the containers;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus with the reagent bin removed;

Fig. 4 is a central sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the rotating electrode supporting member and its drive means;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section with parts in elevation showing the lower position of the reagent bin;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig.5;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing one of the amalgam plates;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section taken on line 8-8, Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation, partly in section and with parts broken away showing the value saver; 10 is a section taken on broken line Ifil 0,

ified wall construction;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the pump and disintegrator unit;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation, partly in section showing the pump and disintegrator unit;

, Fig. 14 is a section taken on line |4-l4, Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of a disintegrator vane;

Fig. vane;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary section taken on line l'l--l1, Fig. 14;

Fig. 18 is an enlargedsectional view showin the value saver; and

Fig. 19 is a wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawings by reference character, we have shown our invention as embodied in an electrochemical value recovering apparatus which is indicated generally at l0.

16 is a side elevation of a'disintegrator Fig. 1115 a fragmentary section showing a mod- As shown, the apparatus includes a pair of containers II which are arranged in side by side parallel relation and are spaced apart. Each of the containers l includes sides, ends and a bottom. The containers are preferably made of a plurality of layers of wood 2 and a supporting frame l3.

Instead of making the containers of plywood we construct them of wood planks indicated at l4 in Fig. 11. If the container is made in this fashion, it will be provided with support members l5 and with a lining of insulating plastic l6.

As shown, each container ll is provided with partitions I1 and I8 which provide a pair of receptacles I9 and a chamber 29.

In each receptacle l9 we arranged a hollow tubular member 2| (see Fig. 4). Each tubular member includes an upper bearing support 22 which is suspended from a frame member 23. The lower end of the tubular member is shown as closed by a plug 24 and at the lower end each tubular member is provided with a. vane member 25 the vanes of which are arranged to draw the pulp being treated downwardly in the associated receptacle.

One of the tubular members 2| in each set is driven from a pulley 26 on a shaft 21 through gears 28 and 29 arranged in a gear box 39 and the other tubular member of the same set is driven by a gear 3|, sprocket chain 32 and gear 33.

At its lower end each of the tubular members 2| is provided with a plurality of sets of electrodes 34. These electrodes are shown as arranged in tubes 34' and are insulated from the tubes by insulating members 34". The electrodes in each set are connected by leads 35 to a cable 36 and each of the cables 36 is connected to a contact 31- mounted in an insulating disk 33. The insulating disk 38 is mounted in a cup 39 secured upon the upper end-of the tubular member 2|. I I

Above each tubular member 2| we arrange bearings 49 which support a rotary member 4| which is connected by an insulating member 42 to a conducting plate 43. Below the conducting plate 42 we arrange an insulating disk 44. A plurality of contact pins slide through the plate 43 and disk 44 and are urged by springs 46 into engagement with the contacts 31.; We show four of the contact pins 45 although the number may be varied.

One of the rotary members 4| of each set is driven througha pulley 41 from a belt 48 which passes over an idler 49 and over a pulley 59 on the shaft 27. The rotation of the member 4| is preferably reverse to that of the tubular member 2|. The other member 4| of each set is driven by a pulley 5| through a belt 52 and a pulley 53. Each of the conducting plates 43 is connected by a brush member 54 with a lead 55.

Above the uppermost set of electrodes 34, we arrange a cup member 56 which serves as a guard.

In the corner of each of the receptacles l9 we arrange insulating members 51 on which terminal bars 57 are mounted. The terminal bars are spaced from the ends of the electrodes 34.

Each of the bars 51' is connected bye lead 58 to one side of a suitable source 59 of'electricity and the other side of the source is connected to the lead 55.

When the pulleys 26 onv the shaft 2'l are drawn by a suitable prime mover (not shown) the tubular members 2| will be rotated inone direction and the members 4|wi1l be rotated in a reverse direction. As the members thus 'ro-' tate current will pass to the lead 55, to the brush 54, plat 43, pin 45, contact 39 and lead 36, lead 35 to the electrode 34 and will jump across to the bars 51. This action will occur rapidly so that a rapidly pulsating electrical discharge will be provided in the receptacles I9.

The containers II are provided with bottom members 68 which slope towards a drain 6|. Pulp is conducted to the receptacles l9 from a launder 62 and passes through outlets 63 in the launder, and through openings 64 in the receptacle walls. The pulp passes downwardly in the receptacles and as it does this, it is subjected to electrical bombardment, as previously described, The pulp is directed downwardly by the vane members and passes through an opening 64 which connects the receptacles of each pair. The pulp is then forced through an opening 65 into the amalgam chamber 29, where itpasses upwardly between amalgam plates 66 and through a waste outlet 61. The amalgam plates are of a character suitable for the purpose and we preferably provide them with ears 68 which engage support members 69 to hold them in place.

During the recovery operation, mercury is supplied to each receptacle from a tube l8 which extends from a hopper H. The hopper ll receives mercury from a discharge station l2 of a mercury elevator which is indicated generally at 73. The elevator includes spaced sprockets l4 and an idler 15 over which a suitable chain belt structure 76 passes. The belt 16 includes buckets 17 which pick up mercury at the bottom of a housing 18 in which the belt operates and discharges the mercury at the discharge station 12. Mercury is supplied to the bottom of the housing 18 through a pipe 19 connected to a drain 89 at the lower end of an inplined troigh member 8|.

The trough 8| is supported on a frame 82 and in the trough we show parallel bars 83' on which supports 84 are mounted. These supports are spaced apart and engage an arcuate downwardly inclined base member 85 ofa value saver. The base member is provided with holes 86 and supports a screen 8'! overwhi ch a filter cloth 88 passes. The filter clothis wound upon a reel 89 and is pulled over the base member screen by feed rollers 90 which are driven from a member 9|. The member 9| in turn through a suitable friction drive drives a reel 92 on which the filter cloth with the values thereon is wound.

' The d'rain fil which drains mercury from the bottom of the receptacles and containers is connected to a pipe" 93 which communicates with a discharge spout 94. The spout 94 delivers the mercury onto the filter member 88.

To force: the mercury from the filter cloth, we provide a pressure pad 95' which has a lower surface 96'sub'stantially corresponding to the surface of the base member 85 and has a top 96. The pressure pad is pivoted at one end as at 91 to a bracket 98 and at theother end is pivoted at 9 9' to an eccentricmember I99 which is driven from suitable pulleys ||l|.v

I The construction is" such that as the pulley |9|' rotates the pressure pad 96 is moved down with great force'- '50 that the mercury is squeezed from the filter cloth and passes to the trough 9| whence it passes to the mercury saver 13 The values pass along withthe cloth and arewound onto the reel 92. The feed rolls 98 are driven very slowly so: that the filter cloth moves at a slow rate. The reel 92 is driven through a frictionv disk I02 on the member 9I so that slack is prevented in the filtercloth.

In the extraction of values from certain ore bodies it is desirable to add one or more .reagents during the processing operation. For instance, in treating certain material with our apparatus we add sodium chloride to the pulp. In order to add such material we provide a storage bin I03 which is provided with a discharge portion- I04. Below this discharge portion I04 we provide a measuring valve member indicated generally at I05 and which consists of a cylinder I06 having peripheral, spaced, longitudinally extending ribs I01 thereon. The member I06 is mounted on a shaft I08 which has a gear I09 thereonwhich is driven from a suitable drive gear III] by means not shown.

. Mounted on the hopper I03 is a bar II I which has pairs of spaced ears H2 thereon. Between each pair of cars we pivot a control arm H3 which passes loosely through an aperture H4 in a valve plate I I5. The lower portion of the hopper I03 is provided by partition forming member H6 between which the plates H5 slide. The plates I I5 are provided with beveled ends I I1 and as the plates are withdrawn, they provide discharge passages I I8 to the cylindrical feed member I86 so that the amount of material passing to the feed members may be adjusted. Below the feed members we provide discharge chutes H9 each of which leads to a conduit I and each of the discharge conduits I20 is arranged to discharge salt or other material to one of the receptacles I9.

In Figs. 12 to 17 We show our impeller pump and disintegrater unit which includes a suitable housing I25. The housing include an entrance portion I26 which leads to a chamber I21. Communication between the parts I26 and I21 is controlled by a suitable gate member I28 on which a rack I29 is arranged. The rack I29 is engaged by a gear I30 which is supported on a suitable shaft I 3| mounted in suitable bearings I32. A hand wheel I33 serves to rotate the shaft and thereby raise and lower the gate I28.

, In advance of the chamber I21 we arrange a screw impeller cylinder I34 which includes a screened lower portion I35 and in which a spiral impeller member I36 is mounted. This impeller may be of any desired pitch and construction although we prefer that a 22 pitch be employed.

Above the cylinder I34 we provide a disintegrator chamber I31 in which a central shaft I38 is arranged. On the shaft I38 we arrange a gear l39 and on the same shaft we arrange a beveled gear I40 which is driven by a bevel pinion I4I from a pulley I42. The gear I40 meshes with four gears I43 which are disposed 90 apart and each of the gears I43 is mounted on a shaft I44 which extends to the bottom of the chamber I31 and is there supported by a suitable bearing I44.

On the shafts I38 and I44 we arrange a plurality of spiders or vanes I45. These spiders include hub portions I46 and radial vanes I41 which are inclined as shown. At the ends the vanes include ears I48 which are apertures to receive rods I49. Intermediate the spiders I we provide a spider I50 which is similar to the other spiders mentioned except that the ears are omitted.

The spiders are arranged in the position shown in Fig. 14 with the spiders on the shaft I44 all in phase and with the spiders on the shaft I38 disposed between the other spiders. The construction is such that when the shaft I38 is rotated the spiders acting in conjunction with the rods I49 provide a centrifugal agitating effect which thoroughly disintegrates the material being treated.

From the chamber I31 the disintegrated material passes through an outlet I 5| and into a chamber I52 whence it diverges into two streams and passes through inlets I53 into housings I 54 in which rotary washer members I55 are arranged. These washer members may be of any suitable type and serve to separate the sand, silt and gravel and other impurities. These washers are in the nature of mud screens and the pulp containing values passes from the Washers through outlets I56 and passes into the launder 62 as shown. The waste material from the mud screen passes through the waste outlet I51 to a waste chute I58.

In the use of our apparatus the material to be returned passes through the entrance portion I26 of the disintegrater past the gate valve I28 through the chamber I31 and is lifted by the spiral member I36 to the chamber I21. In this chamber the vane members I45 and the rods I49 thoroughly break up the material. The material from the chamber I31 passes to the debris washer I55 (the constructions of which forms no part of the present invention).

The part containing the values passes into the launder 62 and through the outlet 83 and opening 64 into the receptacle I9. The material passes down through the receptacle with the circulation assisted by the vane members 25 and during this movement the material is treated with mercury supplied by the tube 10 and by sodium chloride through the conduits I20. In the receptacle I9 the material is subjected to a severe electrical bombardment so that the particles are freed from the coating, etc. and the various actions mentions above take place,

The material passes through the amalgam chambers 20 where a further recovery of value takes place. The mercury drains down from the receptacle I9 into the chamber 20 and passes through the pipe 93 to the value saver and. onto the filter cloth 88 where it is subjected to the pressure treatment mentioned so that the cloth with the values therein passes on to the reel 92 and the mercury is returned through the pipe 19 to the mercury elevator 13 and back into the circuit.

Certain of the material which may be treated by our improved method and apparatus includes compounds of mercury and during this operation free mercury is secured so that after the initiation of the process there is an excess of mercury available which may be withdrawn and shippe to consumers.

The values are recovered from the cloth 08 on the reel 92 and from the amalgam plates in the usual approved manner.

From the foregoing description it will appear that we have invented a novel electrochemical value recovery apparatus and method which is highly effective for its intended purpose.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A value recovering apparatus comprising an elongated container, a partition means in the container providing a plurality of receptacles and an amalgam chamber, said receptacles having closed bottoms, means to supply pulp to each receptacle, a vertically arranged, rotary member in each receptacle, a plurality of electrodes on each rotary member, means to drive said rotary members, mean on the rotary members to urge pulp downwardly in each receptacle, means adjacent the lower part of the container to afford communication between the receptacles and the chamber, said amalgam chamber having an outlet adjacent to the top thereof, a plurality of amalgam plates in the chamber, a normally open drain in the container, said receptacle and chamber bottoms sloping to the drain, means to supply mercury to each receptacle, and means to supply a chemical agent to each receptacle.

2. A value recovering apparatus comprising an elongated container having side Walls and end walls, partition means in the container providing a plurality of receptacles and a chamber, a frame member extending above said receptacles, a drive member supported on said frame memher, a plurality of vertical shafts arranged on said frame member and extending into said receptacles, a plurality of electrodes arranged on each shaft, means whereby said drive member drives said shafts, a reagent receptacle supported on said frame member, conduit means connecting said reagent receptacle and said first mentioned receptacles, a rotary member in said conduit for controlling discharge from said reagent receptacle and means whereby said drive member drives said rotary member.

3. A value recovering apparatus comprising an elongated container, partition means in the container providing a plurality of receptacles and an amalgam chamber, said receptacles having closed bottoms, means to supply pulp to each receptacle, a vertically arranged rotary member in each receptacle, a plurality of agitators on each rotary member, means to supply a reagent to each receptacle, a drive means, means operated by the drive means to operate said rotary member and said supply means, means on the'rotary members to urge pulp downwardly in each receptacle, means adjacent the lower part of the container to afford communication between the receptacles and the chamber, said amalgam chamber having an outlet adjacent to the top thereof, a plurality of amalgam plates in the chamber, a normally open drain in the container, said receptacle and chamber bottoms sloping to the drain, means to supply mercury to each receptacle, andmeans to supply a chemical agent to each receptacle.

4.-In a value recovering apparatus, a receptacle, an amalgam chamber, said receptacle having a closed bottom, means to supply pulp to the receptacle, a vertically arranged rotary agitating member in the receptacle, means to drive said rotary agitating member, means to afford communication between the receptacle and the amalgam chamber, said amalgam chamber having an outlet adjacent to the top thereof, a plurality of amalgam plates in the chamber, and a continuously open drain inthe receptacle, said receptacle bottom sloping to the drainjand means to supply mercury to the receptacle.

5. In a value recovering apparatus, an elongated container, partition means-in the container providing a, receptacle and an amalgam chamber, said receptacle having a closed bottom, means to supply pulp to the receptacle, a vertically arranged rotary agitating member in the receptacle, means to drive said rotary member, means on the rotary agitatingmember to urge pulp downwardly in the receptacle, means adjacent the lower part of the container to afiord communication between the receptacle and the amalgam chamber, said amalgam chamber having an outlet adjacent to the-top thereof, a plurality of amalgam plates inthe chamber, a continuously open drain in the receptacle, said receptacle and chamber bottom sloping to the drain, and means to supply mercury to the receptacle.

6. A value recovering apparatus comprising an elongated container, partition means in the container providing a receptacle and an amalgam chamber, said receptacle having a closed bottom, a vertically arranged rotary member in the receptacle, a plurality of radially arranged electrodes on the rotary member, means to drive said rotary member, means adjacent the lower part of the container to afford communication between the receptacle and the chamber, said amalgam chamber having an outlet adjacent to the top thereof, an amalgam plate in the chamber, a normally open drain in the container, said receptacle and chamber bottoms sloping to the drain, means to supply mercury to the receptacle, and means to supply a chemical agent to the receptacle.

7. A value recovering apparatus comprising an elongated container, partition means in the container providing a receptacle and an amalgam chamber, said receptacle having a closed bottom, a vertically arranged rotary member in the receptacle, a plurality ofagitators on the rotary member, means to supply a reagent to the receptacle, a drive means, means operated by the drivemeans to operate said rotary member and said supply means, means adjacent the lower part of the container to afford communication between the receptacle and the chamber, said amalgam chamber having an outlet adjacent to the top thereof, an amalgam plate in the chamber, a drain for the container, said receptacle and chamber bottoms sloping to the drain, means to supply mercury to the receptacle, and means to supply a chemical agent to the receptacle.

WALTER E. CUMMINS. WALLACE W. STAPP. 

